The Silent Holocaust

Abortion is a problem that is very deeply rooted in the moral fabric of our country. America seems to view life as a expendable. Our warped views of sexuality lead to a mentality that sex is for pleasure and not necessarily for the purpose of creating life. We have separated the very purpose of sexual intercourse from the act. Things like contraception and abortion only add to the problem, encouraging those who weren't 'planning' on having children to decide that they simply won't, even if God had other plans for them.

There's obviously a lot to say on this topic, but I'm going to try to keep my thoughts focused. I recently re-watched a favorite video clip of mine: an abortion survivor named Gianna Jessen addressing the Parliament in Victoria, Australia. She has some very unique perspectives on the topic of abortion, almost hauntingly claiming that "The Silent Holocaust did not win over me," as well as some stellar thought-provoking lines. I'll give a few of them, but I really encourage you to watch the videos.

"I know in the age that we live in, it is not at all politically correct to say the name of Jesus Christ in places like this, to bring him into these sorts of meetings, because his name can make people so terribly uncomfortable...But I didn't survive so I could make everyone comfortable. I survived so I could stir things up a bit."

That reminds me of the quote from Pope Benedict XVI, "The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."

Attacking the claim that abortion violates women's rights: "If abortion is merely about women's rights, then what were mine? There was not a radical feminist standing up and yelling about how my rights were being violated that day. In fact, my life was being snuffed out in the name of women's rights."

And lastly, referencing the argument that children with the potential for disabilities should be spared from living a life of suffering, she states: "There are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us. And when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses. The Lord looks after them, but you are the one that will suffer forever."

Like I said--a lot of thought-provoking stuff. If you've got 15 minutes free, take the time to listen to it. It'll definitely give you an interesting perspective on one of America's greatest spiritual battlefields.

Friendships on the Threshold of Change

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge people person. I've always said that my friends are my drugs, and I suppose that what I really mean is that one of the greatest ways I experience God is through my relationships with people.

After this summer, I was left questioning where some of my greatest friendships were going. You see, after my senior year of high school, I was very curious to see if my friends that I had grown so close to in high school would stay close. We seemed inseparable in high school, and despite the great excitement I felt for college, I couldn't help but feel as though I was leaving something else behind.

Much to my enjoyment, things didn't seem to change much after we all got in college. After the first couple of years of school, we seemed to remain close, and while our relationships were necessarily different because of our experiences away at school, we were all still able to come back home and build upon what we had always had.

However, after this past summer, I couldn't help but feel as though we were beginning to grow apart. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And from what I could tell, most of it was healthy and natural. Many of us, including myself, were away with internships, summer jobs, and amazing opportunities for our futures. But being myself, I was slightly saddened by the fact that it was happening. Once the greatest of friends, we seemed to be drifting away.

As I came home for Thanksgiving break, I wondered to myself whether we would be together again. Not surprisingly, the night after we all arrived home, the mass invitation was sent out. I wondered how many of my friends would attend and whether things would be different, especially having not seen each other for nearly the entire summer.

Things were good. It's actually amazing for me to see how each of our lives are headed along different paths. Though we've experienced drastically different circumstances over the past few years, we are still able to come together and celebrate the relationships we began building so long ago. Sure, we're all different from the people we were in high school, but we've been able to embrace who we've become.

It did me a lot of good to be able to see our interactions after our time apart--to see how they've changed and how they've stayed the same. Whether a priest or a faithful lay person, I will inevitably be led to friendships with different people in different places in different periods of time in my life. I need to foster friendships with a healthy realization that friends do grow apart. However, I will always be a firm believer that our human relationships are a way to experience Christ in our earthly life. And as such, I look forward to every opportunity to invest myself in someone else's life. I look forward to every opportunity to catch up with an 'old' friend, to share an experience with another, and to build new relationships everywhere I go.

As graduation grows ever closer, I find myself thinking a lot about these things. Where will I be in a few years? Will I remain close with all of the people I know and love in college? If not, will I be presented with the opportunities to keep in touch? I find it very difficult to think that I may never see--or worse, speak to-=some of my greatest friends after I graduate. Nevertheless, I have full faith that God will provide for me. I must constantly remind myself that the friendships with which He has blessed me have greater purpose, and ultimately, I must carry with me the things that I have learned no matter where I go.

A Long Time Coming...

Well, I've been away from this for a while. Let that be a testament to how busy my semester has been. And that's no complaint. I absolutely love what I'm doing, at least 95% of the time. School has been a challenge this semester, mostly because of the difficulty of my classes, but aided by the fact that I cannot really see myself working as a chemical engineer in nearly any capacity. Don't get me wrong, I still actually kind of enjoy what I'm studying from time to time, and I wouldn't trade my time at the University of Illinois for anything, but it all keeps me praying for perseverance, to say the least.

Since I haven't written since September, it's easy to think of a lot of things that have gone unsaid in my blog. I'll try to bring out a few of the more important things, but I'll inevitably forget some very important things...

My brother has been seriously discerning religious life for a while now, and he finally made the move to get that process underway. This fall, he decided to drop his college classes, given that it was going to take him a significant amount of time to finish up his degree. He called Conception Abbey, which is the monastery that ran his seminary when he attended seminary college, and asked them what it would take. After some talking, they arranged for him to come and live with them for a month. He just got back tonight from working and praying with the Benedictines for a month, and I can only say that he's as happy as I've ever seen him. Hopefully, God willing, he'll be joining sometime after the beginning of the year. While I can't say that it won't be difficult to live so far away from my brother, I'm incredibly happy for him in every possible way. It's amazing to have an example in my life of someone who's so willing to radically follow God's call in his life. I only hope that I'm as willing to put aside my wants and desires and abandon myself so fully to God.

Aside from that, things in my life have been going pretty well. As of October 29th, I have officially applied to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. I can't even say how great it felt to get the application finished. I felt like I was finally doing something about what I felt God had been writing on my heart for quite some time. Now I wait as they begin to review my application. Eventually I'll be called in for an interview and at some point I'll begin the process of applying to the seminary itself. Exciting times, no doubt. I just have to keep reminding myself to keep focused on my vocation at present, which is student.

The weekend after I turned in my application, I had the opportunity to visit the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. My diocese sends to this school, along with a couple of others. The place is absolutely stunning. The grounds are gorgeous and the entire place breeds peace and serenity. The weekend I visited happened to be deaconate ordination, and I was blessed to be able to sing in the choir for the celebration. Afterwards at the hors d'oeuvres reception, a friend of mine who goes to Mundelein introduced me to some of the very important figures associated with the seminary. I shook hands with Francis Cardinal George and a couple of bishops, the rector of the seminary as well as a couple of the deans, and some very intriguing professors and religious. After somewhat of a whirlwind weekend, I was fortunate to get to spend some time in the main chapel and then driving around the lake. (Funny, my camera ended up deleting the pictures I took.)

I'm incredibly eager to get started with my discernment in seminary. I have a ways to go before I get there, but things are definitely coming together.

St. Charles Borromeo, pray for us!

Coincidence or Providence?

So last night we had the first of our FOCUS Bible Studies. Upon revealing that I was a senior, much to the surprise of a couple of the guys that were present (I'm not sure how old they thought I was...I was afraid to ask.), one of the kids, somewhat cautiously asked me 'what I wanted to do.'

I told him that I was studying Chemical Engineering, but planned on walking away from my degree once I was graduated (a somewhat light-hearted response I like to employ). He prompted me to go further...to actually explain what it was that I planned to do instead.

So I replied that I was pretty sure I was applying for seminary.

He jumped up and yelled, "I KNEW IT!!! I COULD JUST TELL!"

Seeing as I was just sitting there (in sweatpants, no less) talking completely normally, I was a little surprised at his surety. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but smile at his response.

I don't know what it was about me that had "possible future seminarian" written across my forehead, but regardless, I felt honored to even give off that impression. I've known quite a few seminarians in my day, and they have been without exception some of the most honorable Christian men I know.

Falling off the Wagon...

I predicted this would happen. I come back to school and I get slammed with 'stuff.' Granted, at this point in the semester, I don't even have that much homework. That's quickly changing, especially given that I'm in my senior Design class that is sure to kill me because of all the work (the professor even acknowledges that).

I've been busy with a whole bunch of other things. A friend and I have already started work on the Koinonia retreat that we'll be leading in February. Service Team and OXE meetings, FOCUS Bible Study, and choir practice have already started. On top of that, I started spiritual direction this week. That was quite an experience. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post about spiritual direction later in the semester...we'll see about that.

But for now, suffice it to say that I'm quite busy. Blogging will be a welcome relief to such a busy semester, but prayer and Mass are most definitely my first priority (alongside my student duties). For now, though, I figured I'd at least say hello!

Oh, in the midst of catching up with some blogs I follow, I've read a few posts from a fellow Totus Tuus missionary from this summer. He has a pretty amazing outlook on things, so I'd recommend checking out his blog.

That's all for now! God Bless!

It's Great To Be Back!

I love being back in Champaign! After an intensely long move-in process to my new apartment (which I also really like), I got the opportunity to return to Newman after long last. It was exactly what I needed. I love being surrounded by the positive atmosphere of people who share my faith. I've noticed in the past few years of my life that the friendships I have that are built on or around Christ are the strongest friendships I've had. And for good reason.

This summer, through Totus Tuus, we taught the older kids what a virtuous friend is. It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a relationship whose ultimate goal is to achieve heaven for both parties. Pretty sweet. 'Virtuous friends' are definitely the people that I feel I am most connecting with at present, and I have no doubt that they will be an important part of my future faith journey.

As an extreme people-person, a huge part of my discernment process has been that of figuring out where I could use my talents to help people. Through some great conversation tonight with a great friend of mine, I'm struck with thought about how appealing a life of evangelization truly is. Upon telling him of my experiences this summer, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of joy at the thought of a room full of fully attentive junior high and high schoolers listening to you talk about God--and then asking questions! Seeing that light go on in someone's mind is an experience I cannot begin to explain, but it's certainly one that I wouldn't mind dedicating my life to. More often, I find myself thinking: "We are the Church Militant, let us be soldiers for Christ."

What have we done on the battlefield lately?

Senior year is going to be one of the most rewardingly challenging and enjoyable years of my life thus far. Godspeed to all, and let's take the world by storm.

I Love Quotes.

The other day, I found myself watching Sister Act (and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit). Despite the fact that I watched both of these movies a mere 3 months ago, I couldn't help but want to watch them again. If you've never watched them, you should. They're not spectacular movies, but I find myself drawn to that type of innocent, musical, uplifting humor.

One line caught my attention in the second movie (okay, like 400 lines caught my attention, but this one had meaning): "If you wanna be somebody, if you wanna go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention." How true. In today's world, you better hit the ground running, or you're more than likely going to get run over. But that's not what I found interesting. There's something a little deeper there, at least I think.

God is a reality in this world. Whether or not you want to admit it, He's there, and He'd love for us to acknowledge that. The line, quoted above, seemed to me like more of a calling. "If you wanna be somebody, if you wanna go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention." We're all called to be saints--holy men and women of God. If we want to end up sharing in the eternal life promised us by God, then perhaps we should step up and pay attention to what shelf we placed God on. Perhaps you should consider this: God's the bookshelf, not something to be placed on it.

Today I watched Letters to God. The movie was pretty predictably cheesy and cliche (How do you make this thing do accents?). But overall, the meaning was there. I could talk about the movie, but again I'd like to highlight a quote that I heard in (of all things) the previews. It said: "God doesn't expect you to be successful, just faithful."

Again, how true. We're quite obsessed with the perception of success in our lives--more specifically, others' perception of our success in our lives. But the ultimate test of our life is not how much money we earned or whether or not we've gotten some kick-ass job that will make everyone else envious. While I find even myself thinking about what my monetary situation will be like after school, I remind myself that God doesn't call everyone to that million-dollar profession. During my car ride to Ohio, I was talking to my cousin about what she would like to do for a living. She's changed majors (who hasn't?), and she's being pressured to choose the money-making job over what she thinks might otherwise make her happy. What a shame. Nevertheless, it's a pressure we all face. It's a real disappointment that we cannot put aside our concerns about money and success and think about what really matters: our faith. Try not being successful if you've followed Christ throughout your whole life. While society might not consider your life a success, I guarantee, you'll end up the victor.

My brother and I will be driving to Tulsa, Oklahoma tomorrow for the wake of Andrew Dever. Please pray for our safe travels (it's a 7-hour drive and we'll be returning after spending only a couple of hours in Tulsa). Pray also for Andrew and his family in these difficult times. Letters to God was successful in provoking several strong emotions within me: one of which is how extremely difficult it must be to watch your child suffer or die. We must only rely on God for comfort.